David Kong to Lead Best Western Through 2018

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PHOENIX—Best Western International has announced that David Kong will continue to lead the brand as president and CEO through 2018.

Kong was named president and CEO in 2004, and his new contract, which was unanimously support by the Best Western Board of Directors. Under Kong’s leadership, Best Western has launched a number of initiatives, which have resonated with travelers and re-energized the brand. The brand’s descriptors include Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier.

The announcement comes on the heels of Kong receiving a prestigious industry award. Earlier this month at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, Kong received the Stephen W. Brener Lodging Hospitality Silver Plate Award. Kong was recognized for his contributions to the resurgence of the Best Western brand and to the hospitality industry.

The Stephen W. Brener award has been given annually for more than 50 years to the most influential personalities, companies and organizations in the travel industry. Previous recipients include Hilton Worldwide President and CEO Christopher Nassetta and Randy Smith, chairman and co-founder of Smith Travel Research.

HX: The Hotel Experience Has Its Own Story to Tell
The Hotel Business team just returned from this year’s HX: The Hotel Experience, which was held in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. As we usually do post-event, we talk amongst ourselves about trends we noticed at the show, held in conjunction with BDNY. And while the latter—and now larger—show was abundant with design trends (let’s just say blue seemed the prevalent color; bold, geometric forms the dominant shape; and metallics a common thread…pun intended!), the more traditional “hotel” side of the convention center had its own story to tell.